Powdered Solder Instructions & Tips
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Sharing your passion for making jewelry. Products. Service. Know-how. Powdered Solder Instructions & Tips Formulated by Victoria Landsford, renowned metalsmith and artist and author of the Metal Techniques of Bronze Age Masters: Russian Filigree DVD, this powdered solder begins with a traditional recipe, then is given a touch of flux to better serve the modern metalsmith. The exceptionally fine texture of this powdered solder allows the artist to use much less to accomplish the same job—especially ideal for Russian filigree and other fine work. Powdered solder is suitable for Russian filigree with sterling frames and fine silver filler wire, 18-karat gold frames and fine silver filler wire, and Argentium® Silver frames and filler wire. The solder flows like an easy solder but, because much of the zinc burns off once it has flowed, in subsequent rounds of soldering it behaves like a medium solder. This feature allows the same solder to be used in multiple rounds of soldering on very fine wire with no risk of collapse in previously soldered areas. Instructions: Tips for using the solder: 1. Turn on your ventilation system. • Inexpensive synthetic brushes work best. 2. Place filigree face down on a compressed charcoal • Distilled water is a must! Bottled or tap water contains block. chemicals and/or minerals that may cause problems. 3. Carefully open the jar of solder (do not shake.) • Water will slightly darken the solder color; this is normal. 4. Scoop a small amount of the solder into the jar lid. • If, for any reason, you need to re-flow a section of filigree 5. Mix several drops of distilled water in the lid to make a where the solder has already flowed and the piece has thin paste with the powder. (NOTE: water MUST be pure.) been pickled, you will need to flux that area with paste 6. Gently paint the thin paste onto the filigree at each flux to help the solder re-flow. point to be soldered. • Most types of torches will work on small pieces, but an air/ 7. Let the piece dry for 5 minutes to prevent leaving acetylene works best on pieces larger than 2" x 2". moisture in the paste that can boil and bubble up while • As with any silver soldering, heat your piece evenly all soldering. over before concentrating on the area to be soldered. 8. Solder by heating the whole piece first then Because silver is a good conductor of heat, it’s possible concentrate on the joints. Always ensure adequate make one area red hot (or even to melt it) without getting ventilation! your solder to flow. Even all-over heat is the key. 9. Pickle the soldered piece. • Warning! This product contains silver, bronze, copper, zinc, and borax. Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Let 10. Any unused solder paste left in the jar lid can be contents settle before opening to prevent metal dust allowed to dry, then returned to the container. becoming airborne. May cause skin irritation. Please request To reconstitute, add more distilled water. Dried solder and follow the information offered in the MSDS for this may be remixed indefinitely. product. 800.545.6566 www.riogrande.com Russian Filigree Powdered Solder Instructions & Tips Troubleshooting Problem: The solder is sticking to the brush or is difficult to Problem: The filler wire won’t solder to the frame. make adhere to the filigree when applying. Solutions: Solutions: Check that you have used distilled water (not tap or Make sure you’re using an inexpensive synthetic brush such bottled water). The tap water in certain locations may have as a flux brush. Artists’ brushes such as sable or other fine, high concentrations of calcium, iron, or other elements, pointed brushes intended for painting may cause the solder chemicals or minerals that can create soldering problems by to stick to the fibers instead of sticking to the filigree. neutralizing the flux. Some bottled waters have minerals in —or— them that can neutralize the flux as well. Mix a little more water into the powder in the lid. Make sure you’re heating the frame enough for the solder to Problem: The solder does not flow when heated. flow onto it and not just into the filler wires. Solutions: Make sure that the piece is evenly heated and for long enough to allow the solder to flow fully. It will mirror when it flows just like wire or sheet solder. If there is a grainy appearance after heating, the solder has not fully flowed. Be sure to pickle between rounds of soldering. ©2013 Rio Grande, Inc. All rights reserved. 800.545.6566 www.riogrande.com Sharing your passion for making jewelry. Products. Service. Know-how..